Civics-1.2 Seven Major Principles

Popular Sovereignty The Declaration of Independence says that governments get their powers from the people. "We the people" reinforce this idea of popular sovereignty—or "authority of the people."

The people are the source of the government’s power. Popular Sovereignty

Republicanism Under republicanism, voters elect representatives and give them the responsibility to make laws and conduct government.

A form of government in which representatives are elected by the people. Republicanism

Limited Government By creating a limited government, the Framers made certain the government would have only those powers that the people gave it. Limited government can be described as the "rule of law." No people or groups are above the law.

The Constitution limits the actions of the government by specifically listing powers it does and does not have. Limited Government

Federalism A system in which the power is shared between the national government and the states is called a federal system, or federalism. The Constitution defines three types of government powers: Enumerated, Reserved, and Concurrent.

Enumerated powers belong only to the federal government and are actually listed, or enumerated, in the Constitution. Enumerated Powers >Make army & navy >Regulate interstate & foreign trade >Conduct Foreign affairs >Create federal courts >Coin money

Reserved powers are the things that the states have control over. Enumerated Powers >Make army & navy >Regulate interstate & foreign trade >Conduct Foreign affairs >Create federal courts >Coin money Reserved Powers >Establish schools >Pass marriage and divorce laws >Regulate trade within a state

The Tenth Amendment even says that all powers not specifically listed as belonging to the federal government "are reserved to the States."

Concurrent powers are the powers shared by the state and federal governments. Enumerated Powers >Make army & navy >Regulate interstate & foreign trade >Conduct Foreign affairs >Create federal courts >Coin money Reserved Powers >Establish schools >Pass marriage and divorce laws >Regulate trade within a state >Enforce the laws >Establish courts >Raise taxes >Borrow money >Provide for the general welfare

Because the Constitution is "the supreme Law of the Land," when state law and federal law disagree, the federal law always wins. Enumerated Powers >Make army & navy >Regulate interstate & foreign trade >Conduct Foreign affairs >Create federal courts >Coin money Reserved >Establish schools >Pass marriage and divorce laws >Regulate trade within a state >Enforce the laws >Establish courts >Collect taxes >Borrow money >Provide for the general welfare

State Gov’t Nat’l Gov’t BothBoth A system of government in which the power is divided between the state and national governments. Federalism

Separation of Powers To prevent any one government group from getting too much power, federal government was divided into 3 branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.

The legislative branch, Congress, makes the laws.

The executive branch, headed by the president, enforces the laws.

The judicial branch, consisting of the Supreme Court and other federal courts, judges the laws.

Each of three branches of government has its own responsibilities Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances The Constitution also has a system of checks and balances so that each branch of government can check, or limit, the power of the other branches.

Here’s how it works

LEGISLATURE House and Senate Both houses of Congress must pass a bill for it to become law. EXECUTIVE President Can check Congress by vetoing the bill 2/3 of Congress can check the president by overriding the veto The president appoints Supreme Court justices the Senate must approve the appointments JUDICIAL the Supreme Court check on Congress and the president by ruling on the constitutionality of laws and presidential acts The president and the legislature may check the Court through Constitutional amendments

Each branch of government has some control over the other two branches. Checks and Balances

Individual Rights The Bill of Rights became part of the Constiution in These first 10 Amendments protect basic liberties and rights-----including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and the right to a trial by jury.

Basic freedoms and rights of all citizens guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Individual Rights